GRANT District and its neighbouring council will meet over the future funding arrangements for the region’s largest animal welfare shelter.
This follows The Border Watch running a prominent story highlighting the growing hardship endured by the financially embattled South East Animal Welfare League.
The league leaders have warned they may have to close the Riddoch Highway shelter north of Mount Gambier if both councils do not increase their funding commitments.
This comes as the shelter struggles with growing operational costs, including cat and dog food, cat litter and veterinary bills.
Speaking at the this week’s meeting, Cr Alan Hill questioned the process going forward given the “urgency” highlighted by the charity animal welfare organisation in the newspaper.
“What have we done up to now?” Cr Hill said.
In response, council chief executive officer David Singe said council had taken steps this week to engage with Mount Gambier City Council to meet over the issue.
“We have formally arranged to send correspondence across and have discussions on a collective basis on what we can do,” Mr Singe said at the meeting.
City Council has also indicated it will hold a members’ workshop on the issue later this month.
The league has been left in financial limbo despite a formal request for additional funds ahead of both councils finalising their 2018/19 budgets.
The league’s proponents have pleaded for $100,000 in additional funds collectively from both councils.
In a heartfelt interview with The Border Watch last week, league board member Trevor Twilley made a public appeal to both councils to come to the rescue of the charity.
He warned euthanasia rates would skyrocket and animals would be dumped on roadsides if the league had to close its doors.
While the league was not making any “rash” decisions about its future, Mr Twilley warned it only had limited cash reserves to keep the facility operational.
He said the organisation – which had 45 volunteers – needed to know its fate given the new financial year had ticked over.
“We need the backing of councils … a mere $40,000 (from the councils) is not even paying a single wage,” Mr Twilley said.
“We want local councils to take a more functioning share in SEAWL endeavours of kennelling and re-homing animals collected in local public places and thoroughfares.”
He revealed the league was being hit with rising costs, including veterinary care for injured and ill animals, along with desexing and microchipping.
The league runs on a skeleton paid staff arrangement, which is the equivalent of 1.4 full-time employees.
“The route to keep this charitable organisation afloat is diminishing quickly,” Mr Twilley said.
The league has been operating for more than 40 years as a not-for-profit group caring for lost and abandoned animals.
